Daily Dothttp://www.dailydot.com/Daily Dot Articleen-usMon, 27 Aug 2012 19:30:53 +0000Seattle protester cleared of police assault charges by YouTube footagehttp://www.dailydot.com/news/seattle-protester-charges-dropped-youtube/<p><img src='http://cdn0.dailydot.com/cache/a5/07/a5072f0f4fdd40561b15e287349d1479.jpg'></p><p>
Prosecutors have dismissed charges against a May Day protester after reviewing YouTube footage that proved her innocence, according to a<a href="http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2012/08/riot_charges_dropped_against_m.php"> <em>Seattle Weekly</em> report</a>.</p>
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Maria Jannett Morales, 30, was charged with fourth degree assault in King County, Wa., a felony, after Seattle police arrested her for an incident that occurred just before 6pm PT on May 1.</p>
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According to police reports submitted to case prosecutors, Morales punched female officer Sonya Fry in the chest without provocation after calling her a &quot;bitch.&quot; Reports also declared that Morales kicked another police officer in the leg.</p>
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The Seattle Police Department&#39;s account of the incident was called into question after prosecutors came upon a May 2 YouTube video that finds Fry grabbing Morales by the hair and pulling her to the ground without any physical provocation.</p>
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<iframe class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="365" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/EMH-sZoR0jg?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="640"></iframe></p>
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Prosecutors dropped the charges against Morales on Aug. 17, after reviewing the YouTube footage. Prosecutor spokesman Dan Donahue said that he &quot;felt that we could no longer prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt, so the charge was dismissed.&quot;</p>
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Morales is the second May Day protester to have charges dropped as a result of evidence showing up on YouTube. On May 15, protester<a href="http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2012/05/joshua_alex_garland_case_shows.php"> Joshua Alex Garland was dismissed of assault charges</a> after a&nbsp;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=Yr_FljU4FRM">YouTube clip</a> found that police had incited altercation.</p>
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<em>Photo via <a href="http://youtu.be/EMH-sZoR0jg">YouTube</a></em></p>
chase@dailydot.com (Chase Hoffberger)Mon, 27 Aug 2012 19:30:53 +0000http://www.dailydot.com/news/seattle-protester-charges-dropped-youtube/YouTubeNews